International Football
UNIVERSITY LECTURERS LECTURE SUPER FALCONS, GOLDEN EAGLETS
A trio of university dons on Tuesday challenged players of the Super Falcons and the Golden Eaglets to make hard work, patriotism, focus, dedication and fearlessness their watchwords, while discountenancing all events and situations that could discourage them in their various national assignments.
At a seminar organized by the Nigeria Football Federation, at Serob Legacy Hotel, Abuja, with the theme ‘Nationalism and Patriotism’, Professor Florence Adeyanju of the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria urged the Falcons and the Eaglets to always take pride in being selected to represent a country of about 190 million people, and have no fear of any team whenever they get to the field of play.
“Success favours only the bold. You don’t have to fear any player or team when you get to the field of play. Remember the country you are representing and be psychologically motivated that you cannot lose, that you are a champion already. Be full of positive thinking all the time,” she added.
On her part, Dr. Odunola Bello of the University of Maiduguri spoke on nationalism and patriotism, underscoring the need for players and officials to note allegiance to the nation at all times and display sense of communal spirit, tolerance, dedication and discipline in all that they do.
Professor Mariam Suleiman, who is Head of Department of Health Education and Human Kinetics, Ahmadu Bello University spoke on career guidance, charging the players to think of life after football and plan well for both.
“You are active and agile now, but after you must have reached your peak, you would no longer be that agile.
What will you do after football? You should endeavour to seek relevant qualifications in such areas that you have flair. You should develop yourself so that you can remain relevant after football.”
General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who was chairman of the occasion, charged the players of the two teams to take the lessons from the seminar to heart in order to be better players and better individuals going forward.
Also at the seminar were Bola Oyeyode (NFF Director of Competitions); Ademola Olajire (Director of Communications); Mr. Ali Muhammad (Deputy Director, Competitions); Abdulrafiu Yusuf (Assistant Director, Technical); Miss Ruth David (Head of Women Football); Dr. Robinson Okosun (Assistant Director, Technical) and; Coaches Thomas Dennerby of the Super Falcons and Manu Garba of the Golden Eaglets.
International Football
German Thomas Tuchel becomes 3rd foreign manager for England
Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been named the new head coach of the England national team, the country’s Football Association said in a statement on Wednesday.
The German, who is England’s third foreign manager, after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello, will be assisted by Englishman Anthony Barry, the statement added.
“We are thrilled to have hired Thomas Tuchel, one of the best coaches in the world and Anthony Barry who is one of the best English coaches to support him,” FA CEO Mark Bullingham said.
Tuchel replaces Lee Carsley, England’s under-21 manager, who has been in temporary charge since the resignation of Gareth Southgate after England’s defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.
-Reuters
International Football
Factbox on England head coach Thomas Tuchel
German Thomas Tuchel has been appointed head coach of the England national team on Wednesday.
Born: Aug. 29, 1973 in Krumbach, Germany.
PLAYING CAREER
* Tuchel played for his local club TSV Krumbach, before moving to FC Augsburg’s academy at the age of 15.
* He never played for Augsburg’s senior side and joined German second division team Stuttgarter Kickers in 1992.
* After eight league appearances for Kickers, Tuchel moved to fourth-tier SSV Ulm.
* Tuchel made 69 league appearances for Ulm as a central defender before he was forced to retire in 1998 at the age of 25 due to a knee injury.
COACHING CAREER
* Tuchel began his coaching career with a youth team role at VfB Stuttgart in 2000, working with future Germany internationals Mario Gomez and Holger Badstuber.
* He returned to Augsburg and took charge of their reserve team for the 2007-08 season.
* Tuchel was appointed Mainz 05 manager in 2009, replacing compatriot Juergen Klopp.
* He guided Mainz to Bundesliga stability during his five-year stint at the club, gaining plaudits for his team’s high energy, attacking style of play.
* Tuchel took over from Klopp as Borussia Dortmund coach in 2015.
* He led Dortmund to a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2017 German Cup final. He was sacked by Dortmund three days later.
* Tuchel joined Paris St Germain in 2018 on a two-year contract, replacing Unai Emery.
* He won two Ligue 1 titles, including a domestic quadruple in his second season, and guided the club to their first Champions League final, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
* Tuchel was sacked by PSG on Christmas Eve in 2020, despite the club finishing top of their Champions League group and sitting third in the Ligue 1 table.
* He was named Chelsea manager in January 2021 on an initial 18-month contract following the dismissal of Frank Lampard.
* Tuchel revived the team’s Premier League season and guided the London club to the Champions League final, where they beat Manchester City. Chelsea also won the Super Cup and Club World Cup.
* Chelsea sacked Tuchel in September 2022 following a shock 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League group game.
* Bayern Munich appointed Tuchel to succeed Julian Nagelsmann in March last year.
* Bayern decided to let Tuchel go at the end of the 2023-24 season despite a contract until 2025. Tuchel steered Bayern to the Bundesliga title in 2022-23, but they finished the last campaign without any silverware for the first time in more than a decade.
* Tuchel will become England’s third foreign manager after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello.
* Tuchel will take over the team in January ahead of the qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
-Reuters
International Football
Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Mateus Mane has become hot property after Portugal named the 17-year-old in their Under-18 squad on Friday, one day after England included him in their squad.
Mane was called up for a second successive England youth camp by coach Liam Bramley before the team travel to Marbella for a four-team tournament this month.
Mane is eligible for both teams having played for the Portugal Under-17 side last season. As the Under-18 team is a non-UEFA age group, both nations are entitled to call the player up.
He made his England international debut last month against the Portugal Under-18 side who have named Mane in their squad for a four-nation tournament this month.
With both tournaments running concurrently, Mane can only play for one team and Wolves and England confirmed he would feature in Bramley’s side.
Reuters has contacted Portugal’s football association for clarification.
While players with multiple nationalities have played for more than one country if they are eligible, they are not allowed to switch allegiances at senior level – unless they have played only in friendly matches for the first country.
-Reuters
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